Agency Report
By Sani Idris
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has on Thursday trained farmers, exporters, prospective exporters, processors of fonio rice (Acha) on modern techniques in production, processing, packaging and export of the crop through value-chain approach.
The Trade Promotion Advisor, Kaduna State Export Assistance Office, Barrister Kasim Ahmed, said they were poised in promoting and diversifying the export of non-oil products in Nigeria.
Describing Kaduna State as a major producer of fonio rice in Nigeria, he said NEPC is at the foretront of its promotion.
Ahmed however, said poor quality production, processing and packaging were a few challenges confronting the exportation of fonio grain to the International market.
"This has affected the export volume, value and good bargain in the international market by increasing the rejection of these products.
"As a Council and a lead Federal Government agency in formulatinge policies, we find the situation worrisome,"he said.
Ahmed said the training was informed to keep abreast the farmers and other stakeholders with the prerequisite knowledge on how to produce high premium fonio grain production, processing and package for export.
He urged the participants to make the best use of the training opportunity to equip themselves and be ready to increase non-oil export volume and value in Nigeria.
He also urged them to utilise the training in gaining knowledge on the activities of NEPC, dynamics of export trade and exportation of quality fonio from the county.
Presenting a paper, Prof. Lucius Bamaiyi of the Department of Crop Production, Institute for Agricultural Research, ABU Zaria, said fonio can be broadcast or sown in rows by hand or planter.
The tittle of the paper was 'Modern techniques in the production, processing, packaging and export of fonio rice through value-chain approach in Kaduna State'.
He said sowing fonio in rows limits seed wastage and makes it easier to weed and more plants and more evenly-spaced plants on the field.
He added that to protect the fonio from wind, taller crops such as maize should be planted around the fonio farm which should be weed timely.
Bamaiyi mentioned some of the challenges of fonio farming to include Labour intense and high cost of dehusking machines, among others constraints which leads farmers to abandon their fonio farm in many parts of Africa.
He said for the crop to gain access into the European market, it must be well packaged, free from infestation, odour and sand free and suitable for human consumption.
He called on the Government to invest much in the crop, noting that it has high nutritional and health value as well as viable for economic growth and monetary exchange.
Earlier, Mr Isaac Kure , the President, National Fonio Association of Nigeria, said the training would be a step to ensuring that farmers of the crop return back to it production because of the monetary and international value.
He noted the health benefits of fonio especially to diabetic patients if well known to locals will energies them venture into its production.
He lamented that in Kaduna and Platue State, the production of fonio has reduced drastically where the training would enlighten them more to inform farmers on the gains entail the crop.
"In 2020, we had the first attempt to export fonio to international market, this is sad and we ought to have for long been sporting the crop.
"What was unfortunate was that even the first attempt of exporting the crop did not yield result, with this training, we will enlighten more farmers on its benefits to one self and the nation's economy at large,"Kure said.
Some of the participants, pledged to utilise the training in improving their yield, however lamenting that the government has little concern for the fonio rice farmers.
They called on the Government to minimise the cost for export and provide them with incentives to encourage them do more in the fonio value chain for the benefit of the nation in general.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the participants were also lectured on export procedures and documentation.
They were also issued certificates for attending the training.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).
Osinbajo departs Abuja for London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday departed Abuja for London, UK, to represent Nigeria at the state funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement, said the vice-president would join members of the Royal Family and other world leaders at a number of events lined up for funeral.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families will be at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Ahead of the service, the vice-president will be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles lll and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace, on Sunday.
Earlier on that day, Osinbajo will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.
Queen Elizabeth ll was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving British monarch.
She passed on at 96 on Sept. 8 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The vice-president will return to Nigeria after the state funeral on Monday.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
No comments:
Post a Comment